John clark hartman



(No Modei.)

J. C. HARTMAN.

VENT.

' No. 437,988. Patented 0813. '2, 1890' wi-twamy UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JOHN CLARK HARTMAN, OF YVATERLOO, IOW'A.

VENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,988, dated October7, 1890.

Application filed April 24, 1890- Serial No. 349,279. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN CLARK HARTMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at lrVater- 100, in the county of Black Hawk and State of Iowa,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vents; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to vents for closed vessels.

The object of my improvements is to provide a vent-opening for portablecans, jars, or the like, which may be readily uncovered or unsealedduring the operation of emptying such vessels.

For this purpose my invention consists in the following construction andcombination of parts, which will first be fully described, and thefeatures of novelty then set forth in the claim.

Figure l is a sectional view of a cap or closure for cans or the like towhich my improvements have been applied. Fig. 2 is a similar viewshowing a modification of my invention. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of aportion of a can, showing still another modification of my improvements.Fig. i is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2, showing yet another modifiedform embodying my invention.

In Fig. 1, a represents an ordinary screwcap for oil-cans. b is acentral perforation in the top of the cap, through which projects thevalve-stem c. e is a guide-frame riveted or otherwise secured to theunder side of the cap, and within which the lower end of the valve-stemis stepped in sliding ways. f is the valve which closes the vent openingb. This valve rests normally against the under side of the cap. g isaspiralspring surrounding the valve-stem c and bearing against the underside of the valve at one end and against the guide-frame at the other.This spring has a constant tendency to seat the valve against the underside of the cap. h hare 5o frame a and limit the movement of the stem,

whereby it may not be pushed down so far that the thumb or finger wouldclose the Vent b.

Pressing down on the top of the valve unseats the valve, and the springbeing compressed has a tendency to throw the valve stem to one side orthe other when the notches h it come abreast or opposite thevent-opening 12 and uncover said opening, the spring holding the stem inthat position. the vent, the valve-stem is pushed back into line withthe vent-opening, when the spring again seats the valve.

The valve stem in Fig. 1 is approximately rectangular in cross section.ever, be of other form, and the slots h h be continued clear around thestem in an annular groove. In Fig. 2 the parts are substantially thesame, except that the valve-stem is cylindrical, as is also thevent-openin g. Above the vent-opening when the valve is seated thevalve-stem is cut away, as shown at 61,130 allow a free passage of airwhen the valvestem is depressed and the parts 1' t' come abreast thevent.

In Fig. 3 my invention is shown applied to the body of a can direct. 70is a wire spring attached to the interior of a can at one end and theother carrying a valvel and short To reseal It may, how- 7o valve-stemm, projecting from the upper side spring 0 for normally closing the ventis a flat which will answer this purpose could be used. 5

I may apply my invention to any vessel to which it may be adapted,either to the vessel itself or to its cap or cover.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- In testimony whereof I affixmy signature ters Patent in presence of two witnesses.

The combination of a valve a valve-stem a can or can-closure providedwith a valve JOHN CLARK HARTMAN't 5 seat, a spring normally seating thevalve, and Witnesses:

a notch on the valve stem, adapted to engage ADOLPH '1. LUSCH,

the va1ve-seat. EMMoNs JOHNSON.

